British Columbia is undergoing a crisis in housing affordability that reaches across generations. Whether you are starting out as a student or are currently an entry-level- or mid-career employee or on the verge of retirement, BCs housing crisis affects both renters and owners alike. Solving this crisis requires deliberate policy action.

Join guest panelists, Paul Finch and Dr. John Rose, to learn about the ways all three levels of government can make housing more affordable and rein in the speculation that is driving housing prices up and young families out.

This event is brought to you by Columbia Café, our dialogue series on timely issues. Organized by Columbia Institute, the series aims to provide a fresh and progressive analytical look at a trending policy issues.

About the Panelists

Paul Finch was elected Treasurer of the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU) in May 2014. He has written on economics, pensions and labour struggle, and has spoken across North America on the broader challenges facing labour and social movements. He has served on the Board of Directors for several non-labour organizations, including the BC Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives. The BCGEU's recent report Building an Affordable B.C. offers a number of specific policy initiatives aimed at tackling the affordability crisis.

Dr. John Rose, Instructor, Department of Geography and the Environment, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, has a special interest in the field of human geography and his graduate research at UBC focused on the residential landscape, immigration, and politicsand mixed quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore them. His recent research report The Housing Supply Myth received considerable media attention for observing that conventional economic beliefs about supply and demand are not evident in Vancouver's current housing market.

Charley Beresford, Executive Director of the Columbia Institute, will moderate the event.